Uneasy calm in Jammu, Kishtwar tense

Two persons died and over 30 were injured in Tuesday’s clashes and the police firing that followed. Inspector General of Police, Jammu, K Rajendra Kumar said “of the two deceased, while one fell to police bullet, the other died of severe splinter injuries following the grenade blast. Those who lobbed the grenade are yet to be identified, and suspects are being rounded up.”

Both the dead belong to the Muslim community, according to the list issued by the police. Six of the injured are reported to be in a serious condition.

Meanwhile, curfew was relaxed for 10-13 hours in the rest of Jammu even as protests over the Amarnath land transfer issue continued across many districts. The region observed complete bandh following the strike called by the Shri Amarnath Sangharsh Samiti (SASS).

Jammu SSP S D Singh Jamwal said the district remained peaceful on Wednesday. Protest rallies were organised from Gangyal to Kunjwani, Bari Brahmana, Roop Nagar and Muthi.

However, in Samba, the curfew relaxation was not extended beyond five hours. Protesters burnt an effigy of Samba SSP Parbhat Singh and raised slogans against him and the Deputy Commissioner.

The twin districts of Rajouri and Poonch also observed a complete bandh as people from both the communities organised separate protest rallies. The DIG (Police), Rajouri-Poonch Range, P R Manhas, said the situation was under control. In Udhampur, the curfew was relaxed for six hours even as protests continued during the day.

Meanwhile, the nationwide chakka jam called by the VHP and Bajrang Dal was not completely implemented in Jammu. State Bajrang Dal president Sushil Soodan said their supporters had not forced the general public to restrict private vehicular movement in view of the continuing bandh in the region.